Recycled Paper Pulp Crafts

February 15, 2011

Spring is just around the corner, so now is a perfect time to make eggs and bird's nests! You're right, I didn't make a nest, since these eggs look so lovely in the glass bowl, but maybe you'd like to? And honestly, we're in the middle of some Purim projects that we really need to finish so that I can clean off the dining room table! (I'll give you a hint, it involves paper mache.....) Then again, if the weather dries up a bit I may just take the kids on a nature walk and collect some little sticks to make nests. Sounds like a great activity to me, though I think we may just have to make some birds too! (And I've been wanting to make birds for months so maybe the Purim crafting can wait?)

or, simply decoupage the eggs with small bits of torn paper for a simpler project that would be more suited to younger children

And by the way, if you can find the plastic eggs that open up to hold treats, wouldn't it be great to fill an egg carton with a bunch of those for Purim? And how about getting the kids to dress up as chickens? And you could be the farmer's wife? Your family will definitely be the life of the party, don't you think?

February 10, 2011

Ever made anything with paper pulp, or with a styrofoam tray? Well, I've recycled styrofoam trays and used them for paper mache projects and for making fun prints, and now they've found another purpose – as the base for a unique paper pulp project.

Now, as far as I know, paper pulp isn't usually beautiful and requires painting afterwards, but I decided to try my own technique wherein the color and beauty of the paper was still evident in the final product. And I think it worked. Mind you, the results are quite artful and far from perfect, not my usual style, but I'm trying to stretch myself a bit, and you should too, or at the least get your kids to create out of the box and not seek perfection! Why? Perfection does not equal creativity!

Look at that pile of scraps on my floor, beautiful right? It almost ended up in the garbage, but the friend who came over to craft didn't have time to clean up her mess...(don't worry, she offered to come back later) and I had the feeling that something interesting would come out of it. Plus the scraps just looked so lovely I had to come up with a way to use them! A little challenge between me, myself and I, that is still in the works with more paper pulp projects to come. Well, actually no promises, they're still drying so we'll have to see what the results are! And in the mean time, I'm just going to have to figure out where to put my new little object.

Tear up the paper into smallish pieces and place in the bowl, possibly fun for some kids (my five year old), tedious for others! As the pile grows, slowly add just enough water to moisten the paper.

Add just enough water to make all the paper wet, and even mushy but not so that there's excess water in the bowl.

Let the pulp mixture sit for a few hours to absorb more water. Covered it can keep for several days or more until you get around to using it. Just don't wait too long, because after a week or so the colors will start to look a bit muddy.

Working on small areas at a time, and using your fingers, smudge some mod podge or paverpol on the tray, and on the underside of a piece of the paper pulp. Press piece down onto tray and smudge some more medium on top. Continue working in this manner, being careful to maintain a consistent thickness of pulp, and using pieces that have a nice combination of colors. Fill in holes where necessary with small pieces of pulp.

I completed the top and then left it to dry for 24 hours before turning the piece over and working on the bottom.

Set aside to dry (this may take several days) and once mostly dry, give one last coat of modge podge or paverpol. Before the final coat of medium, apply a small paper doily coaster, or just about any decorative element...even some stamps might be nice, or a picture of a bird's nest....

Enjoy your little artful project and use it as a catch-all for keys and coins, or even as a dish to serve tiny treats.

Oh, and by the way, if you'd like more information on the product Paverpol, and what it can be used for, click here. And if you live in Israel, take a few minutes to enter a great giveaway to win some Paverpol product, info here.